media release - Greyhound Racing Victoria

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Apr 28, 2017 - by the Victorian Government in 2015 under the Prevention of ... Mr Gillard said that the trainer had been
MEDIA RELEASE Friday, 28 April 2017

GRV suspends greyhound trainer’s licence Greyhound Racing Victoria has immediately suspended the registration of a greyhound trainer after GRV integrity officers discovered a possum in a cage during a search of his property in Melbourne’s South-East yesterday. “In our investigations process, GRV categorises industry participants on the basis of risk and we conduct our surveillance accordingly,” GRV’s General Manager of Integrity Shane Gillard said. “On entering the premises we discovered a possum in a cage and a lure in close proximity.” The presence of certain animals at a place being used for greyhound training or racing was outlawed by the Victorian Government in 2015 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. Mr Gillard said that the trainer had been suspended from taking part in the racing program pending further investigation. “A comprehensive investigation into these circumstances is in progress by both the RSPCA, in terms of potential offences under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act; and GRV’s investigations unit, in terms of potential offences under the GRV rules of racing,” he said. GRV CEO Alan Clayton said that it was because of the increased integrity capability within GRV that such incidents were able to be uncovered. “Over the past 18 months we have more than doubled our integrity budget to more than $10 million and introduced a risk-based process which involves a program of intensive inspections,” Mr Clayton said. “In addition, we have had an external review by ex-Victorian police to look at our intelligence gathering capability. “We now also have mechanisms to allow people to anonymously report suspicious behaviour and the benefits of our investments are paying off. “The system we have put in place is working and we are committed to cleaning up the industry. Animal welfare remains an overarching priority for GRV.”

MEDIA RELEASE Friday, 28 April 2017

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